Aleinu Mentoring Program

      "I guess things aren't always what they seem," said nine year-old Chani. As her mentor, I was moved by her maturity. "You are an insightful and deep young woman," I told her. Her next remark hurt - "Well, that's not something I hear very often."  I hope one day she will see what I see - a treasure.

Aleinu’s Mentoring Program continues to forge meaningful relationships between our devoted volunteers and community youth who need a stable, committed presence in their lives. Bassya Pinson, PsyD, who facilitates the program, has many years of experience overseeing mentoring relationships between dedicated mentors and troubled youth, and can attest to the fact that programs like this work. Aleinu’s mentoring program consists of interactive trainings where mentors gain insight into the issues facing our community’s youth today, and strategies for building healthy relationships with these children and teens. They also receive ongoing supervision and support with their matches.

Our most recent training featured a presentation on the growing epidemic of  ADHD throughout society. Presenter Beth Schoen, MSW, an inclusion specialist who has worked with students with ADHD throughout Los Angeles-area yeshiva high schools, discussed problems and solutions she has experienced in her ten-year career, including:

1) Understanding struggles that youth with ADHD face such as:

            • Difficulties focusing their attention

            • Impulsivity

            • Difficulty completing tasks

            • Challenges with organization.

2) How can a mentor help? The mentor can:

            • Teach the child to maintain a day planner

            • Exercise with the child! Exercise helps to improve focus

            • Be supportive—Empathize with their frustrations and struggles

            • Help them to stop and imagine consequences for their actions.

3) Many individuals with ADHD have a wonderful creative side. A mentor can help the child or teen access that creativity and enjoy the wonderful and inventive style he or she was gifted with.

Feedback from this training workshop was overwhelmingly positive. Aleinu mentors look forward to hearing upcoming speakers who inform and educate them on topics most relevant to today’s youth.